Parks Service responds to petition (AUDIO)

National Parks Service Spokeswoman Faye Walmsley says most of the issues on the petition are already being debated and included in the several plans the parks department is working on.

She says the zoning that’s in the new plans will allow for different types of recreation in different areas, to decrease unnecessary traffic and pollution. Walmsley says the Parks Service values the input of the public and says the four plans will soon be available for public comment. She says a new plan should be in place by the end of 2012.

Walmsley says part of the reason the parks are becoming polluted is because recreation has changed in the last 25 years. The last plan was implemented in 1984.

She says how the new plan will be funded depends on the plan. Some have parts of them that may attract grants, and federal dollars. She says that won’t be decided until after a plan is chosen.